Victorian farmers and producers will be helped to expand their customer base by facilitating online markets and building business resilience and skills thanks to support from the Victorian Government. The recently announced $1.5 million E-Commerce and New Marketplace Transition Package, is part of the Agriculture Workforce Plan which is helping the agriculture sector through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Visit the 'Click for Vic' website for more information...

• Business recovery and resilience mentoring- The Victorian Government is partnering with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (VCCI) to deliver a business mentoring program to help small businesses navigate the economic challenges posed by restrictions to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Through this program, eligible business owners can receive up to four 2-hour mentoring sessions with an experienced professional who will help them make informed decisions about the future of their business. Visit the Business Victoria website for more information...

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Training for business- Through this program, Victorians dealing with the challenges of running a small business can get the mental health support they need to navigate through the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). Visit the Business Victoria website for more information...

• Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)- Are you experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship? Talk to a rural financial counsellor. It is a free, confidential service. They can give you individual support to meet your needs and help you to make the right decisions for your business. Rural financial counsellors are located within key agricultural communities across Australia. Visit the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website for more information...

• Funding for Women's leadership Development: Horticulture Sector- The grants are allocated with the specific intent of providing powerful and effective development opportunities for women within the horticulture sector.​ The funding is available to women working in both levy and non-levy paying organisations. Interest has been strong so prompt registration is advised.​Complete your EOI by Friday 9th October 2020.

• Energy Efficient Communities Program (EEC) High Energy Using Business Grants- The Energy Efficient Communities Program – High Energy Using Business Grants provides businesses with grants of up to $25,000 to improve their energy efficiency. Grants may be used for equipment and component improvements, energy audits, feasibility studies and/or energy use and emission monitoring. Visit the Business Victoria website for more information including eligibility criteria..

Important information about accruing paid sick and carer's leave

On 13 August 2020, the High Court of Australia handed down a decision clarifying how paid personal/carer's leave is accrued and taken under the National Employment Standards (NES). In the decision of Mondelez Australia Pty Ltd v AMWU & Ors  [2020] HCA 29, the High Court clarified that:

• the entitlement to 10 days of personal/carer's leave under the NES is calculated based on an employee's ordinary hours of work, not working days
• 10 days of personal/carer's leave is calculated as 1/26 of an employee's ordinary hours of work in a year.

Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website for more information

Hort update from Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has continued to monitor workplace compliance in the horticulture industry with inspectors assessing over 260 businesses connected with the harvesting of various crops last year and earlier this year. Click here for the full story...

The Review of Round 1 of the Water for Fodder Program is now complete. This was a requirement in the agreement between the Australian and South Australian Governments. The Review incorporated targeted stakeholder feedback, independent analysis and over 800 surveys and written submissions. The review found that a majority of survey respondents supported the Water for Fodder Program, and 84 per cent of applicants said they would apply for the program again.

However, the review also found that South Australia does not have sufficient water security for Round 2 of the program to occur immediately. It will not be until after winter and spring inflows that water availability for the 2020-21 water year will begin to emerge. We therefore expect further details about Round 2 to be announced later this year.

You can download and read the review reports here...

• New IFAM flights to East Asia- Full details can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound.
• Cessation of Virgin Australia flights
• Qatar stands up direct flights ex Adelaide to Doha- In good news for South Australian exporters, Qatar Airways will resume flights between Adelaide and Doha from Sunday 16 August.
• IFAM still supporting flights to the Middle East- Food and agriculture exports from Australia continue to be the most important export component of trade and investment with the Middle East and North Africa region at A$3.9 billion annually (Austrade Market Profile). Through IFAM-supported flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Australian exporters can maintain access to these important markets despite the challenging COVID-19 environment.

Visit the IFAM website...